U.S. Air Force · Special Warfare

1Z1X1 Pararescue (PJ)

As of August 7, 2026, Air Force Pararescue (PJ, AFSC 1Z1X1) requires a 49 General (G) ASVAB line score and a separate PJ selection-model/TAPAS score of 60. The current Air Force pipeline lists 98.5 weeks across Basic Military Training, Special Warfare preparation and selection, dive, airborne, free-fall, survival, paramedic, and Pararescue apprentice training.

last verified 2026-08-07

1Z1X1 (Pararescue (PJ)) is in the Air Force and requires a minimum AFQT of 31 and G of at least 49. Last verified 2026-08-07 against airforce.com (Pararescue).

Quick check

Can I qualify for this job?

Enter the scores you already know. Leave a box blank if you do not have that score yet.

AFQT minimum 31Enter AFQT
G minimum 49Enter G

Plain requirement

What you need.

  • Min AFQT31
  • Training~99 weeks
  • G line score≥ 49

AFQT 31 is a percentile. The line score above is not — it is an Air Force composite, a weighted sum of your ASVAB subtest standard scores (G = VE + AR — per airforce.com (ASVAB — MAGE composites), verified 2026-07-23). Work yours out from your score sheet with the Air Force ASVAB line score calculator.

Source: airforce.com (Pararescue) · last verified 2026-08-07.

Role brief

About 1Z1X1 — Pararescue (PJ).

As of August 7, 2026, Air Force Pararescue (PJ, AFSC 1Z1X1) requires a 49 General (G) ASVAB line score and a separate PJ selection-model/TAPAS score of 60. The current Air Force pipeline lists 98.5 weeks across Basic Military Training, Special Warfare preparation and selection, dive, airborne, free-fall, survival, paramedic, and Pararescue apprentice training.

Starting pay · 2026

What this job pays as a junior enlisted member.

Base pay is set by pay grade, not by job — every Air Force enlistee at the same grade earns the same monthly base pay. These are the 2026 active-duty rates (3.8% raise, effective 2026-01-01).

GradeRankMonthly base payService
E-1Airman Basic (AB)$2,407after 4 months of service
E-2Airman (Amn)$2,698under 2 years
E-3Airman First Class (A1C)$2,837under 2 years
E-4Senior Airman (SrA)$3,142under 2 years
  • Plus food allowance (BAS)$460/moFlat enlisted rate, tax-free, paid on top of base pay.
  • Plus housing allowance (BAH)Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is paid on top of base pay and is tax-free, but it varies by duty-station ZIP code, pay grade, and whether you have dependents — there is no single nationwide figure. Use the official DoD BAH calculator for your assignment location.DoD BAH rate lookup →

Source: DFAS 2026 active-duty basic pay tables (3.8% raise, effective Jan 1 2026) · last verified 2026-05-23 · date retrieved 2026-05-23.

Eligibility notes

What 1Z1X1 candidates should check.

  • The current Air Force Pararescue career page lists 49 General (G) for AFSC 1Z1X1. G is an Air Force MAGE line score, not the AFQT percentile; the general active-duty Air Force floor is AFQT 31 for high-school seniors and graduates and 50 for GED holders.
  • The Air Force page separately lists a minimum score of 60 on the PJ selection model, completed in the Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System (TAPAS). That selection score is not a second ASVAB line score.
  • Pararescue is AFSC 1Z1X1. Air Force Reserve Command records the 2019 Special Warfare conversion as Pararescue 1Z1X1 and Combat Control 1Z2X1, so older pages that label Pararescue 1Z2X1 are using the wrong specialty code.
  • The ten published training stages total 98.5 weeks: Basic Military Training 7.5, Special Warfare Candidate Course 7, Assessment and Selection 4, Pre-Dive 4, Combat Dive 5, Airborne 3, Military Free-Fall 4, SERE 3, Paramedic 39, and Pararescue Apprentice 22. This page rounds the full initial pipeline to about 99 weeks.
  • The official career page lists an age range of 17 to 42, U.S. citizenship, successful completion of the Special Warfare physical and stamina test, and qualification for aviation, parachute, and marine-diving duty among the requirements.
  • Normal color vision and depth perception, a background check, and completion of the Special Warfare Initial Fitness Test are separate qualifications that an ASVAB score alone does not satisfy.

What ASVAB score do you need for Air Force Pararescue?

The current Air Force Pararescue page lists 49 General (G) for PJ AFSC 1Z1X1. G49 is a MAGE line score, not an AFQT percentile; candidates must also meet the Air Force AFQT floor and the separate Special Warfare qualifications.

Is Pararescue 1Z1X1 or 1Z2X1?

Pararescue is AFSC 1Z1X1. Air Force Reserve Command records 1Z2X1 as Combat Control after the 2019 Special Warfare AFSC conversion, so 1Z2X1 should not be used as the current PJ code.

What is the PJ selection-model or TAPAS score?

The current Air Force page lists a minimum PJ selection-model score of 60, completed in TAPAS. It is a separate assessment and should not be confused with the G49 ASVAB line-score requirement.

How long is Air Force Pararescue training?

The ten stages listed on the current Air Force Pararescue page total 98.5 weeks, which this page rounds to about 99 weeks. That includes 7.5 weeks of Basic Military Training and 91 weeks across Special Warfare preparation, selection, dive, airborne, free-fall, survival, paramedic, and Pararescue apprentice courses.

Does a G49 ASVAB score guarantee a Pararescue contract?

No. G49 is the published ASVAB line-score requirement, but candidates must also clear the PJ selection model, physical and stamina testing, medical standards for aviation/parachute/diving duty, background screening, and other current accession requirements. A recruiter confirms contract availability.

What are the AFSC requirements for 1Z1X1 Pararescue (PJ)?

The Air Force Pararescue (PJ) AFSC (1Z1X1) requires a minimum AFQT of 31 and G of at least 49, with initial training of about 99 weeks. Those are the ASVAB-based entry requirements; a recruiter confirms the full enlistment picture (medical, background, and current openings). Source: airforce.com (Pararescue), last verified 2026-08-07.

Source: airforce.com (Pararescue) · last verified 2026-08-07 · date retrieved 2026-08-07.

Nearby targets

Related Air Force score targets.

Related

Practice AFQT plus 1Z1X1 line-score subtests.

AFQT + G practice targets

Compare Air Force ASVAB requirements

Independent test-prep — not affiliated with DoD or the ASVAB program. See officialasvab.com for the test program.

Sources